Sea Service Enlisted Members - More Vital Than Ever

Sea Power, Aug 2005 by Panneton, John A

The spotlight in Washington, D.C., has for years been focused on transformation, which involves the creation of new types of military units and equipment to support emerging defense strategies in the post-Soviet era. However, limited attention has been given to a fundamental transformation under way within the sea services that will bring revolutionary change to the enlisted ranks.

Long the backbone of U.S. military forces, enlisted men and women today are receiving even more varied and intensive training, greater responsibility and leadership roles central to the future success of U.S. tactical units deployed throughout the world. The end result will be a more flexible, capable and effective fighting force.

As U.S. forces restructure to carry out a new array of missions in these uncertain times, the sea services' senior enlisted personnel, renowned for their knowledge and years of service, will take on broader frontline management roles. Experiments such as a two-year sea trial aboard the destroyer USS Decatur, in which 19 of the ship's 23 divisions will be run by chiefs rather than junior officers, are intended to develop lessons for potential future applications of this philosophy.

In addition, Navy ships of the future will have far smaller crews, comprising multitalented sailors continuously training to improve their skills. The Navy is assessing institutional changes to foster the development of a more productive and flexible force. Nonrated billets are a detriment to personnel development, for example, and sea-shore rotations often move sailors out of their specialties for months, leading to declines in motivation and skill levels

The Marine Corps also is experimenting with new operational concepts that rely, in part, on highly trained enlisted leaders able to function decisively far from the flagpole. For example, Distributed Operations envisions the deployment of separate small units of Marines to operate independently within a battlespace to more effectively combat unconventional, dispersed adversaries. The specialized training these units receive encourages decision-making at the tactical level, entrusting them to react to their specific situation despite the inherent chaos of the battlefield. Meanwhile, individual Marines would be encouraged to attain more specialized skill sets while retaining the ability to perform their traditional missions.

The Coast Guard, too, is asking more of its enlisted personnel. Expanding to carry out new security missions, it is assigning junior petty officers to jobs traditionally done by more senior personnel. They have excelled, giving the Coast Guard the tensile strength it needs for the years ahead.

The enlisted members of the sea services have always been our "secret weapon." Their skill, tenacity and passion for their work inevitably has enabled the United States to field forces superior to those of our enemies. That was the inspiration behind Gen. Douglas MacArthur's statement in August 1962, when he received a congressional resolution of gratitude for his service to our nation: "A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him."

Today, the enlisted men and women of our sea services are more vital than ever as they serve around the globe to protect the lives, liberty and property of the American people.

The Navy League salutes them and their families for their outstanding dedication and patriotism. We support them, and, as Navy Leaguers, we will continue to communicate with enlisted members of the sea services about the mission of our organization.

Semper Fidelis.

By JOHN A. PANNETON, National President

John A. Panneton

I want to hear from you about the Navy League. Contact me at jpannelon@ninyleague.org or by mail at 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3308.